Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is providing a payroll service for school secretaries with effect from 1^stSeptember 2023. There are currently in excess of 2,600 secretaries on payroll.

As part of the implementation of the pay agreement for school secretaries, salary arrears have been calculated for all secretaries eligible for the payment. These arrears payments were received through the payroll on the 23^rdNovember 2023. Those due payments under this first phase also received written correspondence detailing the arrears that were paid. The first phase involved payments to secretaries who are currentlyon my Department’s payroll system.

The next phase of arrears payments is being worked on and involves those secretaries who opted in to the new arrangements but who are not currently on my Department’s payroll because of retirement or resignation etc. prior to 01/09/2023. As these secretaries are no longer on payroll their arrears will be facilitated by payments that will be made directly to the schools in which they last worked. The schools will then disburse the arrears directly to the secretaries involved.

All secretaries due payments in this next phase will receive advance written communication from my Department containing details of the payments to be made. This information will also be sent, in advance, to the schools involved. These letters will issue over the next few days with payments to follow shortly thereafter.

The arrears due to school secretaries is the difference between the new Grade III salary and the grant funded salary for the 21/22 and 22/23 school years. Calculation of the arrears include pay increases that are in line with those given under Building Momentum and, also, increments payable since September 2021 for the calculated Grade III salary.